A passenger bus in northern India catches fire and burns at least 20 people to death

NEW DELHI (AP) — A suspected short circuit sparked a fire on a passenger bus in northern India on Tuesday, rapidly engulfing the vehicle in flames and burning at least 20 people to death, authorities said.

The bus with 35 to 50 passengers aboard was minutes from starting its journey between the towns of Jaisalmer and Jodhpur in Rajasthan state when the fire broke out, local ruling party lawmaker Mahant Pratap Puri told The Associated Press.

“Passengers didn’t get time to deboard the bus as the fire spread quickly,” Puri said.

The bodies of 19 passengers were recovered from the bus, while one person succumbed to their burns on the way to a hospital, Puri said. At least 15 passengers were critically injured and admitted to a hospital for treatment.

Smoke began to emerge from the vehicle’